мой друг
moy drug[moj druk]word by word
The Russian phrase for "my friend" is мой друг (moy drug).
This phrase is used to refer to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection. While you might use the word друг to describe a close friend, you should use знакомый if you are referring to an acquaintance whom you know but do not have a deep bond with.
Which one should you use?
If you are referring to a female friend, the phrase changes to моя подруга to match her gender. Additionally, the informal phrase Моя подружка can be used to refer to a female friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must change its endings to моего друга when used in the genitive case, which occurs after certain prepositions like для (for) or when using negation. Furthermore, the phrase must match the gender of the friend: use мой друг for a male and моя подруга for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
moy drug
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'friend' as a casual greeting, calling a stranger мой друг in Russia can sound strangely intense or even suspicious, as if you are trying too hard to build instant trust.
- Historically, друг was not just a noun meaning 'friend', but a short form of the adjective 'другой', meaning 'another' or 'different'.
- In certain ironic or sarcastic contexts, calling a stranger мой друг can be a way of signaling condescension or a warning rather than affection.
Examples in context
- Том мой друг.Tom is my friend.This sentence is useful for identifying someone as мой друг.Tatoeba #1393685 by Balamax, translation #406604 by CK
- Ты не мой друг.You're not my friend.This sentence is useful for negating the phrase мой друг.Tatoeba #5062666 by odexed, translation #2547434 by CK
- Джин не мой друг.Gin is not my friend.Tatoeba #3950321 by odexed, translation #1077182 by Zaphod
- Здравствуйте, это мой друг Александр.Hello, this is my friend Alexander.
- Добрый вечер, я представляю вам мою подругу Ирину.Good evening, I present to you my friend Irina.
- Это Таня, моя подружка, она изучает русский язык.This is Tanya, my friend, she is studying the Russian language.
- 213 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria introduces Sergey to another person.
- Мария MariaЗнакомься, это мой друг Сергей.Znakom'sya, eto moy drug Sergey.Meet my friend Sergey.
- Сергей SergeyПривет! Очень приятно познакомиться.Privet! Ochen' priyatno poznakomit'sya.Hi! It's very nice to meet you.
- Мария MariaСергей мой друг с детства.Sergey moy drug s detstva.Sergey is my friend from childhood.
- Сергей SergeyОго, вы давно знакомы!Ogo, vy davno znakomy!Wow, you've known each other for a long time!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (мой, друг) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries друг, мой, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
